Last-minute leaks of part numbers hint Apple is about to release both upgraded iMacs and Mac minis on Tuesday -- along with an emphasis on larger screens for iMacs and a likely NVIDIA-based design.

French site MacBidouille on Monday detailed new model numbers that appear to confirm AppleInsider's discovery of six new Apple products in resellers' pipelines.

Of these, four models ranging from MB417 through MB420 are described as new iMacs, but with a different system balance than today's lineup: only the first model would have a 20-inch screen, while the remaining four would have 24-inch displays.

In turn, two Mac mini models, the MB463 and MB464, would represent updated low- and high-end versions of Apple's compact desktops.

All four would be available tomorrow and ship almost immediately, according to the claim.

Additionally, Dutch site OneMoreThing -- which just earlier today provided a claimed Mac mini box shot -- now also claims to have rough details of the systems' specifications.

The iMacs would come with 2.66GHz, 2.93GHz and 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo processors, with 2GB of DDR3 memory for the base model and 4GB for the rest; they would also support up to 8GB of RAM and carry a Mini DisplayPort connector. Mac minis would have the five USB ports, FireWire 800 and Mini DisplayPort as in photos and videos from last month and would start with a 2GHz Core 2 Duo and carry either 1GB or 2GB of memory depending on the model. Hard drives would also start at a minimum 120GB but top out at 320GB.

While such late-breaking claims must always be treated with caution, the details support Apple's own unintentional leaks, which showed NVIDIA-based iMacs and Mac minis that were meant for 2008 but were ultimately pushed into early 2009.

Wow, a tiny 1GB of RAM and 120GB HD on the low end Mac Mini... better be $399, that's all I can say! I got a netbook with that for £200 4 months ago, and that has a keyboard and screen built in... we're just talking a better CPU and chipset.

Given that decent 24" LCD monitors (like the Dell S2409W) are selling for $250, moving more of the iMac models to 24" display size makes sense. The more interesting news would be the pricing. I expect the entry-level 20" iMac to be priced at $999 and the high-end model to be priced at $1999. It is more difficult to guess the pricing for the mid-range models, but if Apple can keep the MB418 pricing in $1299 range, we may have a winner.

Apple also has to do something drastic about Mac Mini pricing. $499 and $599 would be more appropriate price points for the minis based on today's component prices and the economic environment.

Oh, one last thing, how about iWork as part of the standard software bundle in addition to iLife? Apple can always make money later through upgrades...

Wow, a tiny 1GB of RAM and 120GB HD on the low end Mac Mini... better be $399, that's all I can say! I got a netbook with that for £200 4 months ago, and that has a keyboard and screen built in... we're just talking a better CPU and chipset.

Hmm... those iMac updates seem too incremental to me. Over a year later, Apple still can't fit more than a 3.06 GHz processor in there? I know the RAM and NVIDIA improvements are nothing to shake a stick at, but I can't see Apple bumping up all of that while leaving the main processor stuck where it is now. Has anything like that happened before?

I know the public isn't as wedded to GHz numbers as they used to be, but it's still the topline number: You still want it going up, even if only gradually.

No quad-core Penryn iMac??? WTF? They've been out for 2 years now, and the newer models are EASILY within the power and heat budget of an iMac.
This will be hilarious... The Mac Pro will have 2x Quad-core "Nehalem" Xeons which already blow away the existing quad-core "Penryn" Xeons and the iMac will be stuck with a freaking Core 2 Duo!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tetzel1517

Hmm... those iMac updates seem too incremental to me. Over a year later, Apple still can't fit more than a 3.06 GHz processor in there?
....I know the public isn't as wedded to GHz numbers as they used to be, but it's still the topline number: You still want it going up, even if only gradually.

Thats the highest clocked C2D laptop chip.. Obviously why they should have at least the top end models using a 45-65W Core 2 Quad.

Wow, a tiny 1GB of RAM and 120GB HD on the low end Mac Mini... better be $399, that's all I can say! I got a netbook with that for £200 4 months ago, and that has a keyboard and screen built in... we're just talking a better CPU and chipset.

I agree. 120 gb is pathetically lacking and a possible deal breaker for me, especially paired with 1gb of ram, which doesn't cut it. I guess $399 would be ok, but what's the point? Regarding the design, I really thought that photo/video leak was a mock-up. It's a nice looking machine no doubt, but I guess I was expecting something different after all this time.

Let's say it's true..if Apple thinks they're going to sell Core 2 Duo's for 8 months as their primary desktop computer for $1600+ in this economy when PC manufacturers are offering quad cores and i7's for less, they're really out of their mind. The mini update is just as ridiculous. 1GB of RAM, same as their 2 year old mini? WTF? This all sounds fake, and let's hope it is.

Let's say it's true..if Apple thinks they're going to sell Core 2 Duo's for 8 months as their primary desktop computer for $1600+ in this economy when PC manufacturers are offering quad cores and i7's for less, they're really out of their mind. The mini update is just as ridiculous. 1GB of RAM, same as their 2 year old mini? WTF? This all sounds fake, and let's hope it is.

Lets hope this announcement is wrong, fake or incorrect. I was expecting much more in a new iMAC announcement. Price points are way to high.

Lets hope this announcement is wrong, fake or incorrect. I was expecting much more in a new iMAC announcement. Price points are way to high.

I was going to buy an iMac, or mid-range tower (if they surprisingly offered one finally), but if they aren't offering quad cores of any kind or a major price drop to compensate for that, I'm not giving them a penny. It only rewards them for releasing outdated hardware. Of course they're happy making larger and larger profits if people keep eating up their products. The only way they'd listen is if their sales dramatically dropped. That's assuming this story is true, but again, I doubt it.

I was going to buy an iMac, or mid-range tower (if they surprisingly offered one finally), but if they aren't offering quad cores of any kind or a major price drop to compensate for that, I'm not giving them a penny. It only rewards them for releasing outdated hardware. Of course they're happy making larger and larger profits if people keep eating up their products. The only way they'd listen is if their sales dramatically dropped. That's assuming this story is true, but again, I doubt it.

this is exactly what i have been saying for the past few months. i want to buy a new iMac, however they NEED to do something for me. i need an all-in-one, it does not need to be too powerful, however it does need to be able to do some pretty intensive things. but for $2000 it should be able to do those things...

there are already all in ones on the market that have quad cores, blu-ray drives, and support more than 4GB of ram, and they cost (maxed out) about the same as an iMac. there is a problem here.

Apple is VERY good at creating cases that can remove heat from components, so they, if anyone, should be able to put the most powerful computers in teh smallest cases together, yet they are letting themselves be outdone. which does not make my sympathetic, it makes me look more at the Dell one/gateway one/hp touch smart.

i WANT an apple iMac, but if these rumors are true, i'll be getting a Dell all-in-one.

Lets hope this announcement is wrong, fake or incorrect. I was expecting much more in a new iMAC announcement. Price points are way to high.

What price points? None have been reported, have they?

Given the weak upgrade specs relative to such a long wait, my hope is that Apple has decided to simply lower prices across the board to address the economic climate. Mac mini at 499/699; iMac at 1099 for 20", 1399 for 24"/2.66; 1699 for 24"/2.93; and 1999 for 24"/3.06.

The 3.06GHz iMac looks as if it just has RAM and HD upgrades. Maybe a new top-of-the-line Quad is coming on Mar 24.

also, they *need* a new mighty mouse. i dont care if it is more sophisticated than it looks, it needs to feel better in a persons hand. if these rumors are faulse, and there is a really good iMac ahead of us, then i will still keep my Microsoft laser mouse 5000.

also, they *need* a new mighty mouse. i dont care if it is more sophisticated than it looks, it needs to feel better in a persons hand. if these rumors are faulse, and there is a really good iMac ahead of us, then i will still keep my Microsoft laser mouse 5000.